An investigation of nationally-important Viking discoveries, sparked when a Cumbrian metal detectorist found a brooch in 2004, have paved the way to six Viking burials hinting at a culture and tales from a volatile period of political history

A buckle from one of the female graves. The combination of tin plating, boss-capped rivets and ring-and-dot decoration is a feature shared by four buckles and two strap ends from Cumwhitton, and other examples from the surrounding area. This may point to a local place of manufacture

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

In 2004, two Viking oval brooches were found by a metal detectorist, leading to the discovery and excavation of a rare tenth-century cemetery

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

This axehead, with a preserved section of mineralised wooden shaft, unusually proved to be boxwood. The axe had been thrust into an oak board at the base of the grave, perhaps the remains of a bier on which the deceased was placed

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

A ringed pin for fastening a cloak. These pins originated in Ireland, but became very popular amongst Scandinavian communities, finding their way back to the homelands. This example also preserves a small piece of textile on the shank

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

A corroded group of metal objects, which comprises a sickle blade, shears, and an antler or bone comb. The latter was preserved as a mineralised deposit by the corrosion of the ironwork

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

The mineralised remains of a horn handle, inlaid with silver wire, on a large knife, or seax, found with one of the male burials. The style of knife suggests it may have been made in the British Isles

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

A spur and spur buckles found in one of the graves. These were probably manufactured in England, and whilst the Vikings are famous for fighting on foot, they were also keen horsemen

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

Six burials were discovered in total, five of which were clustered together in a group. One of these had a semi-circular ditch around it, perhaps suggesting it was covered by a mound

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

The hilltop on which the burials were found, looking towards Cumwhitton village. Based on the objects deposited in the graves, there appear to have been four men and two women buried in the cemetery, though, sadly, the only human remains were a tiny fragment of skull

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

One of the authors of the archaeological reports giving a demonstration of Viking combat at an open day to thank the people of Cumwhitton for their co-operation during the excavation

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Oxford Archaeology Ltd

Six burials, from a maximum of two generations of 10th century Vikings, were found on farmland in a small village in the Eden Valley, just south of Carlisle. The skeletons of the four men and two women had been destroyed by the acidity of the soil they were left in.

Swords, spearheads, spurs, knives and beads were among the objects carried by the east-west orientated graves, with a decorated drinking horn, the silver-inlaid horn handle of a seax and a wooden locking box of textiles proving particularly revealing under further analysis.

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